Blogging in war

With the popularity of blogging these days, bloggers sometimes forget that their posts can have adverse consequences. Apparently, a U.S. Army National Guard soldier found this out the hard way.

Guardsman in Iraq Punished Over Blog Post
Associated Press | August 02, 2005
PHOENIX - An Arizona National Guardsman serving in Iraq has been demoted for posting classified information on his Internet Web log, an Army official said Monday.

Leonard Clark, 40, was demoted from specialist to private first class and fined $1,640, said Col. Bill Buckner, a spokesman for the Multi-National Corps-Iraq.

Personal responsibility is important for everyone, particularly when our public actions can have a direct impact on the safety and security of soldiers on the battlefield. I don’t know exactly what sort of classified information was released but, based on the Army’s press release (below), it was possibly information that enemy forces could have used to execute assaults on U.S. troops. This is reckless endangerment. The guardsman may not have intended to do this but war requires special diligence–in fact, protecting freedom and the safety of others always requires special diligence.

I can guarantee that you’ll never find me posting sensitive information on this blog or in any other public forum. The lives of my comrades are too valuable.

Here follows the Army press release about the case:

Private First Class Leonard Clark Press Release

On July 19, 2005, Lieutenant Colonel James F. Switzer, Commander, 504th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade, Multi-National Corps-Iraq, notified Specialist Leonard A. Clark, 860th Military Police Company, of his intent to dispose of alleged misconduct under Article 15, Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).

After consulting with a Trial Defense Counsel, a military defense lawyer, Specialist Clark elected to accept disposition of the alleged offense using Article 15 proceedings. Specifically, Specialist Clark was charged under Article 15 with the following violations of the UCMJ:

Article 92 (Failure to obey order), 11 specifications; by releasing classified information regarding unit soldiers and convoys being attacked or hit by an improvised explosive devices on various dates, discussing troop movements on various dates, releasing Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures and Rules of Engagement used by the unit on various dates, in violation of a lawful general order prohibiting the release of such information.

Article 134 (Reckless endangerment), 2 specifications; by releasing specific information, on various dates regarding Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures and Rules of Engagement used by his unit and encouraging its widespread publication, such that the enemy forces could foreseeably access the information, such that with that information it was likely that the enemy forces could cause death or serious bodily harm to U.S. forces engaged in the same or similar mission.

On July 19, 2005, at a hearing before Lieutenant Colonel Switzer, Specialist Clark was found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of all Specifications. As a result, Specialist Clark received the following punishment:

Reduction to Private First Class (E-3), forfeiture of $820 per month for two months, 45 days restriction, and 45 days of extra duty. Both the restriction and extra duty were suspended for five months.

Private First Class Clark has appeal rights, but he has chosen not to exercise those rights.

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